Glacier National Park And The Canadian Rockies

2012 Season
Departs From: Calgary

From 1,715EUR

Length:  9 Days from Calgary to Calgary

Overview

This compact vacation delivers the pristine wilderness of several national parks and the soaring beauty of the Rockies on both sides of the Canada/U.S. border. From Calgary, travel to Waterton Lakes National Park, a beautiful national park with rugged mountains, beautiful water, and wilderness. Enter Montana through Glacier National Park, where you’ll enjoy a thrilling drive on the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road aboard the famous red "Jammer" bus. The Going-to-the-Sun Road crosses 6,664-foot-high Logan Pass and offers alpine scenery where jagged mountain peaks, deep green forests, pristine lakes, and meadows dominate the landscape.

Re-enter Canada and visit the historic mining town of Fort Steele, the famous health spa at Radium Hot Springs, and Kootenay National Park in British Columbia. On to Alberta for 2-night stays in both Banff and Jasper National Parks. In Banff, enjoy a ride on the Banff gondola up Sulphur Mountain and leisure time to explore on your own. As you head to Jasper National Park, stop for a memorable ride aboard an Ice Explorer at the 1,000-foot-thick Columbia Icefield. In Jasper National Park, take a cruise to Spirit Island. Visit famous Lake Louise, a highlight of your vacation, before returning to Calgary. Your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner in Calgary—a wonderful way to end this scenic, thrilling vacation to Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies.

Duration:  9 Days

Schedule:

Start Date	End Date
23 June, 2012	01 July, 2012
30 June, 2012	08 July, 2012
02 July, 2012	10 July, 2012
14 July, 2012	22 July, 2012
21 July, 2012	29 July, 2012
28 July, 2012	05 August, 2012
04 August, 2012	12 August, 2012
11 August, 2012	19 August, 2012
25 August, 2012	02 September, 2012
01 September, 2012	09 September, 2012
08 September, 2012	16 September, 2012
15 September, 2012	23 September, 2012

City Highlights

Calgary
Orientation; farewell dinner

Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site

Waterton Lakes National Park
Sightseeing

Glacier National Park
Travel along Going-to-the-Sun Road in Red Jammers

Fort Steele
Visit restored town and Radium Hot Springs

Banff National Park
Gondola ride up Banff’s Sulphur Mountain

Columbia Icefield
Ice Explorer ride on the Columbia Icefield

Jasper National Park
Cruise Maligne Lake

Lake Louise
Visit the lake

Note:

Maximum elevation on vacation: 7,500 ft.

Day 1   Arrive in Calgary. Welcome to Calgary! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.

Day 2   Calgary–Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump–Waterton Lakes National Park. Travel south along the Macleod Trail. Just outside the town of Fort Macleod, visit HEAD-SMASHED-IN BUFFALO JUMP, designated a World Heritage Site. Then, on to scenic WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK with a photo stop at Cameron Falls. (B)

Day 3   Waterton Lakes National Park–Glacier National Park–Going-to-the-Sun Road–Whitefish. Enter Montana through Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park and behold the awesome snowcapped peaks of GLACIER NATIONAL PARK. A highlight awaits you as you board the famous vintage red “JAMMER BUSES” that will take you along one of North America’s most spectacular highways: Going-to-the-Sun Road. After crossing 6,664-foot-high Logan Pass, enter a geographical wonderland of alpine scenery where jagged mountain peaks, deep green forests, pristine lakes, and meadows dominate the landscape. Arrive later this afternoon at your resort, nestled in the heart of a mountain valley. (B,D)

Day 4   Whitefish–Banff. Re-enter Canada today with two stops in British Columbia before crossing into Alberta. First, visit the restored town of FORT STEELE, where fortunes were made during the Kootenay Gold Rush; then, stop at RADIUM HOT SPRINGS, a famous health spa. Drive through the steep red cliffs of Sinclair Canyon and KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK before entering BANFF NATIONAL PARK, the heart of the Canadian Rockies. (B)

Day 5   Banff. Morning sightseeing includes stops at Bow Falls and the Hoodoos. Also enjoy a scenic ride on BANFF GONDOLA up Sulphur Mountain. The balance of the day is at leisure, or join one of the optional helicopter flightseeing trips offering unsurpassed views of the Rockies. This evening, a fun-filled musical about Canada awaits you at the optional dinner theater, Oh Canada Eh? (B)

Day 6   Banff–Columbia Icefield–Jasper. Follow the breathtaking Icefields Parkway today and head for JASPER NATIONAL PARK. Scale Bow Pass, with splendid views of Peyto Lake. Then, climb to Sunwapta Pass to savor stunning vistas of alpine meadows, waterfalls, and glacier masses. Next is the highlight of the day: stop at the 1,000-foot-thick Columbia Icefield for a memorable ride aboard an ICE EXPLORER. See Athabasca Falls before reaching Jasper. Still time this afternoon for an optional float trip down the historic Athabasca River. (B)

Day 7   Jasper. Excursion to Maligne Lake. The morning is at leisure. Optional activities include hiking, canoeing, and strolling the streets of Jasper. Maybe take an optional hike to learn about glacier formations found in the area. This afternoon, journey to Maligne Lake for a fully narrated CRUISE of the glacial lake and Spirit Island. Afterward, you are treated to dinner. (B,D)

Day 8   Jasper–Lake Louise–Calgary. This morning, retrace the route south along the Icefields Parkway. One more highlight saved for the last day of your vacation: a visit to famous LAKE LOUISE. Continue to Calgary, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner. Wonderful conversation and cuisine make the perfect finale for your vacation. (B,D)

Day 9   Calgary. The vacation ends after breakfast this morning with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers are provided to Calgary International Airport. (B)

Meals:  American breakfast daily (B), 3 three-course dinners (D) including a farewell dinner in Calgary

Hotel Information:  CALGARY Delta Bow Valley (SF), WATERTON Bay Shore Inn (F), WHITEFISH Grouse Mountain Lodge (SF), BANFF Banff Park Lodge (F), JASPER Sawridge Hotel (F)


Terms and Conditions

Note: Flights are NOT included with the Tour and unless otherwise stated above transfers are also NOT included.

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